Pit bull laws in Miami changed on October 1, 2023: the county’s decades-old breed ban ended when Florida Senate Bill 942 took effect, and pit bulls are now legal to own in Miami-Dade under the same rules as any other breed.1Florida Senate. SB 942 – Authorization of Restrictions Concerning Dogs The catch is that “legal” does not mean unrestricted. You still have to license the dog, your landlord or HOA can still say no, your insurer can still refuse coverage, and any dog in Florida can be classified as dangerous based on its behavior.
The 2023 Law That Ended Miami’s Ban
Miami-Dade banned pit bulls in 1989 and was the only Florida jurisdiction with a breed-specific ordinance still on the books, protected for years by a grandfather clause in state law. SB 942 stripped that clause out of Florida Statutes Section 767.14. The revised statute now bars any local government or public housing authority from regulating dogs by breed, weight, or size.2The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 767.14 – Additional Local Restrictions Authorized American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and mixes of those breeds can all be owned in the county without special permits or breed-specific registration.
Licensing a Pit Bull in Miami-Dade
Every dog older than four months in Miami-Dade must be licensed and wear its tag at all times.3Municode. Miami-Dade County Code Chapter 5 – Animals and Fowl You need a current rabies vaccination certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian, and the certificate has to state whether the vaccine is a one-year or three-year dose, because that sets your license length.
Fees depend on sterilization:4Miami-Dade County. Dog License (Tag)
- Spayed or neutered: $30 for one year, $90 for three years
- Intact: $60 for one year, $180 for three years
- Under 12 months: $30 regardless of sterilization
- Low-income (with proof of Medicaid, Food Stamps, SSI, or TANF): $5 sterilized, $15 intact
There is no online licensing portal. You can buy or renew at the Pet Adoption and Protection Center, a participating veterinarian, any 311 Service Center, or by mail with a check and a copy of the rabies certificate. The 311 Service Centers only take personal checks, cashier’s checks, or money orders. Licenses renew each year on the anniversary of the most recent rabies shot, and the county can issue a multi-year license matched to a multi-year vaccine. Failing to license the dog on time, or letting it go without its tag, is a citable code violation.
Landlords, HOAs, and Condos Can Still Say No
SB 942 restricts local governments and public housing authorities. It does not reach private landlords, condominium and cooperative boards, or homeowners associations.2The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 767.14 – Additional Local Restrictions Authorized Those entities can still write breed prohibitions into leases or governing documents, and many in Miami-Dade have kept them in place.
This is where people run into trouble after moving. Read the pet clause in a lease before signing, and pull the pet policy from an HOA or condo association before buying. Ask specifically about breed restrictions rather than a general pet allowance. Violations can bring fines, forced removal of the dog, or eviction depending on how the documents are written.
Insurance Is a Separate Question
Homeowners and renters insurers set their own rules, and pit bulls are among the most commonly restricted breeds. Some carriers will not write a policy for a household with a pit bull at all. Others will issue the policy but exclude liability coverage for dog bites, leaving you personally on the hook for any incident.
There are workarounds. Some insurers evaluate the individual dog based on bite history rather than the breed label. Some will cover a pit bull if the dog has completed behavioral training or if the owner accepts muzzle and leash conditions. An umbrella liability policy can sometimes fill a gap left by a primary insurer’s breed exclusion. Disclose the breed up front. If an insurer discovers an undisclosed pit bull after a bite claim, the claim will almost certainly be denied and the policy can be canceled.
Florida’s Strict Liability Rule for Dog Bites
Florida holds owners strictly liable for dog bites. Under Section 767.04, if your dog bites someone in a public place or bites someone lawfully on private property, you are responsible for the damages whether or not the dog has ever shown aggression before.5The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 767.04 – Dog Owners Liability for Damages to Persons Bitten There is no “first bite free” defense. The rule applies to every breed, but it hits pit bull owners hardest because of the insurance gaps.
Your share can be reduced under Florida’s comparative negligence rule if the person bitten was partly at fault, for example by provoking the dog or trespassing. A clearly visible “Bad Dog” sign creates a narrow additional defense, but it offers no protection if the victim is a child under six or if the owner’s own negligence caused the bite.
Dangerous Dog Classification
With breed-based enforcement gone, Miami-Dade now relies on behavior-based rules under state law. A dog can be classified as dangerous under Florida Statutes Section 767.11 if it has aggressively bitten, attacked, or inflicted severe injury on a person; has severely injured or killed a domestic animal more than once while off the owner’s property; or has chased or approached a person in a threatening manner on public property without provocation, confirmed by a sworn statement and investigation.6The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 767.11 – Definitions The criteria are identical for pit bulls and every other breed.
A dog cannot be declared dangerous if it was protecting its owner from an attack, or if the person bitten was trespassing, tormenting, or assaulting the dog.7Florida Senate. Florida Code 767.12 – Classification of Dogs as Dangerous; Owner Requirements; Penalty
What the Designation Requires
Once classified, the owner has 14 days to obtain a certificate of registration from Animal Services and must renew it annually.8Michigan State University Animal Legal and Historical Center. Miami-Dade County Chapter 5 – Animals and Fowl The dog must be microchipped, and the chip must be registered to a national database with the number reported to the county.
Whenever the dog is outside its secure enclosure, it has to be muzzled and held on a substantial chain or leash by a competent handler. The muzzle must let the dog see and breathe normally while preventing a bite. The only exception is exercising the dog on your own property inside a proper enclosure while you are watching, with only household members or other adults 18 and older present. During transport, the dog must be securely restrained inside the vehicle.7Florida Senate. Florida Code 767.12 – Classification of Dogs as Dangerous; Owner Requirements; Penalty
A dangerous dog that attacks and causes severe injury can be destroyed, and the owner can face criminal charges.9Florida Senate. Florida Code 767.13 – Attack or Bite by Dangerous Dog; Penalties; Confiscation; Destruction Owners are also responsible for all boarding costs during any investigation or appeal, and moving the dog or transferring ownership while an investigation is pending is prohibited.